Forty years of varied weather (How the impish decades fly!) Since we lived our lives together, My dog and I. Forty years of thought and action, Failure, struggle, pain, success, Play and passion, friendship, faction, Curse me, and bless. Back through all the mess of living, -- Time's commingled sun and fog, -- Merry, faithful, fond, forgiving, I see my dog. He was one who knew no meanness, Nor the shadow of a lie; Lived we two in spirit-cleanness, My dog and I. He was one who, always sunny, Never knew an anxious thought; Counted glory, counted money, As less than nought. He was one who knew no other Praise or blame than I might bring; I was father, I was brother, His judge and king! How we frolicked, single-hearted. Over meadows, through the wood! How my frets and fears departed, And all was good! Not a word, yet that dear creature, By his bearing and his looks, Said in each expressive feature Far more than books. Forty years of varied going, Highway, byway, steady jog; Few men better worth the knowing Than that old dog. Few have been so loyal to me, Few have I so truly served, Few to hearts unfailing drew me, And never swerved. This memorial belated, Let it stand for men to see, Till in heaven, recreated, He bounds to me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GOUTY MERCHANT AND THE STRANGER by HORACE SMITH BACCHUS AND THE FROGS by ARISTOPHANES THE LORD SPEAKS by KARLE WILSON BAKER LILIES: 3 by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) A LOVE BARGAINE by JOSEPH BEAUMONT THE TWO ARCHERS by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. THE FIRST SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |